Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. In the present invention, storage spaces  59,  each of which is formed in a hexahedral shape with a front face being opened, are formed in an inner case  55  that defines the interior of the refrigerator. A tray  61  is installed in each of the storage spaces  59  to be drawn in a drawer-like fashion. An evaporator  65  is attached to a reverse side of the inner case  55  to cover rear portions of upper and side surfaces of the inner case which are spaced apart by a predetermined distance rearward from the open front face of the storage space  59.  In addition, a fan assembly  69  for allowing the air in the storage space  59  to circulate is installed on a front portion on the ceiling of the storage space  59.  According to the present invention so configured, by relatively reducing the temperature of the front portion of the storage space that first comes into contact with the external air when the tray is drawn out, it is possible to minimize a phenomenon that a layer of frost is formed on the surface of the storage space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of preventing a layer of frost from being formed on a surface of storage space.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general, a refrigerator is classified into an indirect cooling type and a direct cooling type according to a method of cooling air in a storage space. An indirect cooling type refrigerator keeps the storage space at a predetermined temperature by causing the air in the storage space to forcibly circulate in an evaporator by means of a blowing fan to cool the air in the storage space, whereas a direct cooling type refrigerator keeps the storage space at a predetermined temperature by installing an evaporator to be exposed to the interior of the storage space or to be in contact with an inner surface of the storage space to directly cool the air in the storage space. As an example of a refrigerator, a kimchi refrigerator will be described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a kimchi refrigerator as an example of a refrigerator according to a prior art, and FIG. 2 shows an inner case and an evaporator of the kimchi refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in the figures, the exterior and interior of a main body 11 of a kimchi refrigerator are defined by outer and inner cases 13 and 15, respectively. An insulation layer 17 is provided between the outer and inner case and 13 and 15, and storage spaces 19 are defined within the inner case 15.

Each of the storage spaces 19 is formed to be opened toward its front face and equipped with a tray 21 in which foods are stored. Furthermore, in order to draw out the tray 21 installed in each storage space 19 in a drawer-like fashion, a door 23 is provided on a front face of each tray 21. A door handle 24 gripped by a user is also provided on a front surface of the door 23.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an evaporator 25 is attached to reverse sides of the inner case 15 in order to cover an upper surface and opposite side surfaces of each storage space 19. The evaporator 25 serves to cool the air in the storage space 19 through the heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing in the evaporator and the air remaining in the storage space 19.

Although not shown, a heater for ripening foods, particularly kimchi, received in the tray 21 is also provided below the storage space 19. A machine room 27 is provided in a lower portion of the main body 11, and a variety of parts for a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator are included in the machine room 27.

However, the related art refrigerator so configured has the following problems.

As described above, the evaporator 25 is directly attached to the reverse sides of the inner case 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, if external air of relatively higher temperature is introduced into the storage space 19 and comes into contact with the surfaces thereof while a user draws out the tray 21, moisture contained in the external air is frozen due to a temperature difference between the external air and the obverse surface. Then, the frozen moisture is accumulated on the surface of the storage space 19 as time goes by, and thus, a layer of frost is formed on the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator configured such that a layer of frost can be prevented from being formed in a storage space.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a refrigerator, comprising: an inner case with a storage space defined therein, the storage space being opened toward at least a face; an evaporator spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the open face of the storage space and attached to a reverse side of the inner case to cover the storage space; and a fan assembly installed in the storage space to allow air to circulate in the storage space.

Preferably, the storage space is formed in a hexahedral shape with a front face opened, and the evaporator is attached to the reverse side of the inner case at a position spaced apart by the predetermined distance from front ends of upper and side surfaces of the storage space.

More preferably, the fan assembly is installed on a front portion of the ceiling of the storage space.

Still more preferably, the fan assembly operates only when a compressor operates.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention, since the air in the storage space is circulated by the fan assembly, there is an advantage in that it is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the contact between external air of relatively high temperature and the surface of the storage space causes a layer of frost to be formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a kimchi refrigerator as an example of a related art refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inner case and an evaporator of the kimchi refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view illustrating a problem of the related art kimchi refrigerator;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of a kimchi refrigerator as an example of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a major portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view showing the major portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a kimchi refrigerator as an example of a refrigerator according to the present invention, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show a major portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in the figures, an insulation layer 57 is provided between an outer case 53 and an inner case 55, which define an external appearance and an internal appearance of a main body 51 of a kimchi refrigerator, respectively. Storage spaces 59, each of which is formed in a hexahedral shape with a front face being opened, are defined in the inner case 55.

A tray 61 in which foods are accommodated is installed in each of the storage spaces 59 so that the tray 61 can be drawn in a drawer-like fashion. A door 63 is provided on the front surface of each tray 61 to draw out the tray 61 installed in the storage space 59, and a door handle 64 which a user grips with his/her hand is provided on the front surface of the door 63.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, an evaporator 65 is attached to reverse sides of the inner case 55 corresponding to upper and both side surfaces of each storage space 59. The evaporator 65 serves to perform heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing in the evaporator and air in the storage space 59.

The evaporator 65 is provided on the reverse sides of the inner case 55 to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance rearward from the open front face of the storage space 59. That is, the evaporator 65 covers the rear portions of the upper and both side surfaces of the storage space 59 which are indented rearward from front ends on the upper and both side surfaces thereof.

In addition, a heater (not shown) is provided in the main body 51 at a position corresponding to a lower portion of the storage space 59. The heater serves to generate heat for ripening kimchi when the kimchi is accommodated in the tray 61. Further, a machine room 67 in which a variety of parts constructing a refrigeration cycle are equipped is provided at a lower portion of the main body 51.

In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 6, a fan assembly 69 is installed at a front portion on the ceiling of the storage space 59. The fan assembly 69 allows the air to circulate in the storage space 59, so that the temperature in the storage space 59 can be kept uniform as a whole although the heat exchange between the evaporator 65 and the air in the storage space 59 occurs only in the rear portion of the storage space 59. The fan assembly 69 may comprise a fan, a driving motor for imparting a driving force to the fan, and a fan guide for fixing the fan and driving motor to the storage space.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fan assembly 69 is installed on the front portion of the ceiling of the storage space 59. However, the reason is that the tray 61 is not prevented from being drawn out. That is, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. In other words, the fan assembly 69 may be installed at a position where the air in the storage space 59 can effectively circulate. Such a position of the fan assembly 69 can be experimentally determined according to the shape and size of the inner case 55 and storage space 59.

An end of a lead wire (not shown) is connected to the fan assembly 69, and the lead wire extends out of the storage space 59 such that it is connected to a main controller (not shown). Electrical signals and power required for operating the fan assembly 69 are supplied through the lead wire. The fan assembly 69 may be configured in such a manner as to operate only when a compressor installed in the machine room 67 operates.

Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described.

First, a user draws the tray 61 out of the storage space 59 by pulling the door handle 64 of the door 63 with hand. After the tray 61 has been drawn in such a way, the foods accommodated in the tray 61 can be taken out or new foods can be stored in the tray 61.

Next, the user allows the tray 61 to be securely placed in the storage space 59 by gripping and pushing the door handle 64 of the door 63 with hand. The air remaining in the storage space 59 is cooled through the heat exchanged with the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator 65, so that the foods can be stored fresh in the tray 61.

In the meantime, when the tray 61 is drawn out, the external air is introduced in the storage space 59 and first comes into contact with the front portion of the surface of the storage space 59. However, the heat exchange between the air in the storage space 59 and the refrigerant in the evaporator 65 is performed at the rear portion of the storage space 59. Therefore, since the temperature difference between the front portion of the surface of the storage space 59 and the external air coming into contact with the front portion of the storage space 59 is decreased, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that moisture contained in the external air is frozen and a layer of frost is thus formed.

Furthermore, the air in the storage space 59 can circulate by means of the fan assembly 69. Therefore, as described above, the temperature in the storage space 59 can be kept uniform as a whole even though the heat exchange between the air in the storage space 59 and the refrigerant in the evaporator 65 occurs in the rear portion of the storage space 59.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention so configured, the following advantages can be expected.

That is, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the evaporator for cooling the storage space is provided at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the open face of storage space. Therefore, by reducing the temperature difference between the external air and the front portion of the storage space that first comes into contact with the external air when the door is opened, it is possible to minimize the phenomenon that a layer of frost is formed on the surface of the storage space.

Since the formation of a layer of frost on the surface of the storage space can be minimized as described above, it is possible to maximize the efficiency of heat exchange between the refrigerant circulating in the evaporator and the air remaining in the storage space. It is also possible to prevent a phenomenon that the layer of frost formed on the surface of the storage space hinders the tray from coming in and out.

It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications thereto within the scope of the fundamental technical spirit of the present invention. The true scope of the present invention should be construed on the basis of the appended claims. 

1. A refrigerator, comprising: an inner case with a storage space defined therein, the storage space being opened toward at least one face; an evaporator spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the open face of the storage space and attached to a reverse side of the inner case to cover the storage space; and a fan assembly installed in the storage space for allowing air to circulate in the storage space.
 2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage space is formed in a hexahedral shape with a front face opened, and the evaporator is attached to the reverse side on the inner case at a position spaced apart by the predetermined distance from front ends on upper and side surfaces of the storage space.
 3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fan assembly is installed on a front portion of the ceiling of the storage space.
 4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fan assembly operates only when a compressor operates. 